Who Should I Start? Chuba Hubbard or Rico Dowdle
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Chuba Hubbard News
Thursday, March 26, 6:10 AM
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard was one of the breakout success stories of the 2024 season, recording 1,366 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns on 293 touches across 15 games. However, Hubbard missed time early in the 2025 season with a calf injury and had his starting job usurped by fellow back Rico Dowdle. Hubbard finished the year with just 734 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 164 touches across 15 games played. Still, Hubbard may have a chance to reclaim the RB1 role in Carolina in 2026, as Dowdle recently departed the Panthers for the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. Barring any further backfield additions, Hubbard's main competition in Carolina appears to be Jonathan Brooks and Trevor Etienne, who have combined for 29 career carries so far in their NFL careers. If Hubbard finds his way back to the usage he saw in 2024, he could easily re-emerge as a viable fantasy running back in 2026.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Rico Dowdle News
Friday, March 27, 11:40 AM
Across 17 games with the Carolina Panthers in 2025, running back Rico Dowdle racked up 1,373 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 275 touches. After recording just 83 rushing yards over Carolina's first four games of the season, Dowdle took advantage of a mid-season injury to fellow Panthers back Chuba Hubbard and emerged as the team's RB1 through the remainder of the year. Dowdle's emergence in Carolina was enough to earn him a two-year, $12.25 million contract from the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. In Pittsburgh, Dowdle will likely split touches with incumbent Steelers back Jaylen Warren. Warren's presence limits Dowdle's fantasy upside, particularly as a receiver. However, Dowdle is the more physical of the two backs and could be the team's preferred early-down and red zone rusher. Overall, Dowdle profiles as a fringe starting running back option for fantasy managers in a split backfield in Pittsburgh.
Chuba Hubbard vs. Rico Dowdle
Still trying to decide between Hubbard and Dowdle? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Chuba Hubbard is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Rico Dowdle is projected to score 0.0 points.
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